Cycling

Cycling Chiba – Part 2

Posted on by kymdt

Our ride in Chiba’s country side continued as we winded our away country paths between farms and adjacent to rivers. Our next stop was the Sakura Lavenderland.

While it wasn’t the season for lavender’s to flower – in the adjacent fields there certainly were some pretty flowers to be seen. Asako-san told us that:

In Japan the lavender fields of Furano in Hokkaido are famous. Therefore, at Sakura Lavenderland soil improvement was carried out to help lavender adapt to the hot and humid climate of Chiba Pretecture, and planting began in spring of 2003. Currently, the 13,600-square-meter farm cultivates tour varieties totaling 13,600 lavender plants.

Our next stop on a Chiba Cycling tour was the former Sakura City Shizu Elementary School (Aosuge Branch). It was designated a tangible cultural property in 2020. Asako-san told us that:

Aosuge Branch School is a single story wooden schoolhouse with a tile roof, built in 1955. (twas preserved even after ceasing to function as a branch school, retaining much of its original appearance.
This small wooden school building features a staff room beside the entrance, with just two classrooms arranged along a single corridor. Despite being a post World War II structure, it incorporates design elements from prewar wooden school building such as clapboard siding and wooden fittings.

We rounded out this part of the ride with a delightful afternoon tea spot at Cafe Hiyori.

Those of you who have followed this blog for while would know that Helen loves to visit a library or two. This visit was no different. Asako-san was prepared to show us the local Yachiyo City Public Library. Fortunately, there is a no photos policy in the library, you only get to see a small number of photos of the outside of the library. Asako-san told us that:

Yachiyo Public Library has over 350 seats. This includes private rooms and study rooms, providing a comfortable environment for studying. Located along the Shinkawa river, it was built as a lifelong learning hub, designed around the concept of “a place for learning, relaxation, gathering, and information.” Its bright space incorporates abundant natural light. Children’s books are placed near the entrance, with general and reference books arranged further inside, creating a layout suited to different age groups.

We would like to thank Asako-san and the kind people in Chiba Prefecture we met on this ride. It was truly an informative and magical experience.

… to Imabari! Pt 2

Posted on by helenhmk

After enjoying the ice cream we left Hakata beach and headed for the Hakata- Oshima bridge. Around this point there are two rivers that come together (confluence) and if you looks closely at the water you can see the whirlpools.

From the bridge we headed on to Oshima island. While the island features the highest elevation point along the ride we took a diversion and decided to go around the island with a different view.

We stopped to look at a rose garden…. While being at the end of the season still had blooms out.

From here we passed through farms, port areas until the final bridge, Kurushima (or bridges) came into view.

The last bridge is just over 4km long – and we were pleased to have limited wind. When on this bridge you had a sense of achievement for coming as far as you have, and sadness as you know your near the end of the ride.

This area is a significant shipping area.. and there are many ships which use this passage for freight.

We made a brief stop at the cyclist station for a photo with the sign – we had missed it last time (it’s not we’ll sign posted) for the required end of ride picture before the final few kilometres to the city of Imabari.

The ride down to Imabari if you’re following the blue line does have a little traffic… so instead we took a different route which was quieter and more enjoyable, before making it to the hotel.

Ride details

Kilometres cycling – 52.09 km (that’s what Strava tells me)

Elevation gain – 332

Walking – 16,285

… and it was truly a fabulous ride, and so pleased to have experienced it again. Ah.

Setoda to Imabari

Posted on by helenhmk

A great day was had cycling to Imabari. Weather was overcast, but limited wind.

Just before going over the bridge, I stopped at my favourite sign – wild boar!

The bridges along the Shimanami Kaido are a wonderous thing. The approaching angles are really good for cyclists… even if you don’t have a battery, if you can’t cycle there is always walking. At the first lookout point of the bridge we came another Brompton rider from Korea who had cycled from Fukuoka… wow! Then we headed over the bridge, with a brief stop to scare away the dragons and on to the Ehime prefecture.

We stopped at the Tatara Cyclist Station for one of the best views, mandarin drink while taking in the view.

Then we headed for an Italian lunch spot near shopping yard (you can get super close to the ships!)… which was super tasty. We then went on to have an ocean at a nearby spot…with many photo opportunities for the next bridge.

Here we’re are with our Bromptons waiting for the Brompton Lovers meeting…which is held in May (generally every year)… last year the had 222 Brompton owners. We would have a long wait so we continued…

.. more in part two!

Cycling Chiba – part one

Posted on by kymdt

It’s been a busy few days. I haven’t kept up with my blogging duties as well as Helen has. This one is a little bit out of order. We rode Chiba with our friend Asako-san on the Friday before we left for Kyoto and Nara.

We met Asako-san at Funabashi-Nichidai-Mae Station and rode about 27km the long way around to the Murakami Station. I know my Strava says I rode more – but that’s because the algorithm between Beeline and Strava is a little bit faulty. The route is shown below.

Chiba is a prefecture to the east of Tokyo. It has a population of over 6 million. With its location and population size, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it is an overwhelming urban environment. Our starting point was densely populated area with relatively recent developments – the station opened in 1996. It did not take long before we were riding small roads in a bucolic landscape alongside rivers and fields.

Our first stop involved visiting a friendly Kiso horse called Hii-chan. We were fortunate enough to be allowed to feed Hii-chan some lovely persimmon. It is that season after all. Hii-chan can’t have too many because of the tannin in persimmon. Asako-san told us that:

The kiso horse is the only native bred of Honshu and was used a samurai horse from Heian period through Edo period. [The] Current Population is about 100! With a history of being used for farm and transport, it is characterized by its sturdy build and gentle temperament.

Mr Ohmiya [Hii-chan’s owner]  a horsing racing jockey, and was in the racing industry for over Forty years. He [now] wants to contribute to society through horses. Horse therapy is one of rehabilitation that promotes the improvement or physical and mental function of people with disabilities.

After the delightful stop we continued along the river towards a coffee and lunch stop at a Asako’s local farmer’s market – the Yachiyo Agricultural Exchange Centre. We started off with a coffee from a local coffee roaster – Hira Coffee, strolled through the market (admiring the big daikon and buying some souvenirs for us) and finishing with lunch at “Yachiyo Roadside Station Restaurant” the utilitarian title doesn’t really do justice to the good value food provided to locals by this place.

Just in case you didn’t know… Chiba Peanuts are famous!

What you definitely didn’t know was there Chiba had a coffee plantation. Asako-san told us that:

Japan has traditionally been considered unsuitable for coffee cultivation as it lies outside the coffee belt. However, recent advances in greenhouse cultivation technology have made domestic coffee production possible.

Yachifornia Farm is the first domestic coffee farm in Kanto region, located in Yachiyo City, Chiba Prefecture. Yachifornia is aiming to popularise domestic coffee and create a community for coffee enthusiasts.

Visitors can engage with coffee in various ways, including a sapling ownership program, harvest and roasting experiences with the farm, and purchasing products made from coffee cherry and coffee leaves.

Helen and I were very impressed by the focus and dedication towards making a successful coffee plantation in Chiba. I was equally surprised by the offering of a “tea” made from coffee leaves. I’d love to go back for one of the hands on experiences.

End of part 1.

Cycling Yumeshima Kaido

Posted on by helenhmk

The Yumeshima Kaido (meaning dream island road) is a smaller route you can ride to explore the Yuge Islands which are connected by bridges and ferry.

It’s a quieter route – but the views are just as stunning. It’s not flat, but you are rewarded with the view…

We circumnavigated Kamijima and stopped at a cafe for a coffee before taking the bridge.

…we also enjoyed onigiri while taking in the view,. The 🍙 was made by the accomodation place from the previous night with the rice we didn’t finish at dinner (food was amazing!).

The islands are known for citrus and salt (let’s not talk about the salt… controversial topic which involves Price in SA and Mexico), so lunch target was a cafe with lime flavoured pork.

After lunch the target was heading towards the other side of the island to catch a ferry and cycle to accommodation in Setoda.

Cycling the in-land sea

Posted on by helenhmk

As a cyclist there is nothing more enjoyable than cycling the islands in the Seto-Inland Sea. This is our fourth time being in this region, and we are varying it a little by cycling the Yumeshima Kaido, and the Shimanami Kaido with one of our Brompton friends who moved here from Tokyo earlier this year.

We caught a couple of trains from Kashihara Monday morning… to meet in time for a fish lunch at Onomichi, before we set off on the ride.

When cycling here on a Monday you will experience places that are closed, or local food delicacy shops of the area which might be sold out (it was a Monday so I can’t complain), but we stopped at a great little spot for afternoon tea which also sold a variety of home wears and Japanese style items (handmade wooden chopsticks rests.. ah!).

As you can see by the pictures, the weather was a delight… and while the route is definitely not flat (they are islands… and to get to the bridges you gotta go up). the scenery is always changing as you reach a corner.

Here was Mondays Route

Distance- 32.4km

Weather – 17 degrees, wind a little cool, but sun was warm!

Pt 2 – epic ride

Posted on by helenhmk

The first stop on the ride was the Sakura Deai Visitor Centre, which is the confluence of three rivers at Yodogawa Riverside Park. It’s been open since 2017 and is super popular with cyclists – of all kinds. It was a Saturday morning and we saw many road (team and track) bikes.

The site features an observation tower, information centre, a visitor centre with shop and local vegetables… and some vending machines (it’s Japan). We enjoyed the view and an ice cream before getting back on the bikes.

The forecast for the day was 20 degrees and as you can see by the photos- a perfect blue sky. The route is perfect for cyclists, it’s generally separated from cars, and there are the occasional joggers and walkers on the path.

Kozuya Bridge, often referred to as Nagare-bashi (Nagare Bridge), or ’The Flowing bridge across the Kizu River. It’s also the longest wooden bridges in Japan. It’s unique because when there is a flood or typhoon the segments of the bridge will float away in segments separating it from the base and flow like rafts while attached and prevent collapsing. Amazing!

Alongside the cycleway there are also many tea plantations. We stopped again before lunch for a break and take in some water.

Next stop was lunch… and, this was one of the best meals I can recall enjoying.

From the outside it’s a really non descript place… but it was recommended by our fellow cyclists… and I’m not one to go against a local suggestion. I love egg rolls.. and everything about this meal was perfect. Here is the name of I’m ever back this way. だし巻き専門店 京こっこ

After here about 5-6km up the road there was a back tyre blow out, thankfully not ours. The tyre was changed in under 10 minutes- amazing – and Kym contributed to the efficiency with his electric pump (yeah for being useful).

Once the tyre was replaced and we were back on the road, we stopped off at the Nara Palace site. This was was one of the sites of the capitals of Japan, and from AD 710-784 where is then was relocated. The site itself was approximately 1km square, and previously featured a variety of buildings and compounds for different purposes. Many of the buildings are being recreated using traditional Japanese skills and craftsmanship, based on records and archeological excavations of the area since 1959. We had a look the the Imperial Audience Hall.

From here we winded our way through the area towards the centre of Nara.

We stopped to look in Todai-Ji Temple – which is the largest wooden structure in the world, and was last reconstructed after a fire in 1567 (third one since the original was built when it was the capital of Japan. here there was a lot of tourists – when cycling you tend to forget how these sites can be. If you’ve never been to Nara you are lucky to be aware of the deer that live here and like to be fed crackers, and will attack peoples bags if they can smell them. We cycled around the upper sections of the park.. before heading into the main tourist shopping strip, where we enjoyed a fresh mochi (rice cake) from the place which is super trendy on tic-tok, before heading to check in to our hotel.

By the time we uploaded the trip to Strava, I had apparently cycled over 66km. Yes indeed it was an epic ride!

KM’s cycled – 66.39

Hours on bike – 6.47

Steps in total day – 16,131

Epic Saturday ride…

Posted on by helenhmk

Today’s plan was a bit of cycling from Kyoto to Nara. However to get to the start we had to catch a Shinkansen from Tokyo… all sounds relatively easy so far. But to meet at the starting point we were at Tokyo Train Station by 6am. The only way to do this with luggage involved cycling from our hotel in Suidobashi at 5:30, it’s a short 20 minute ride which was familiar to us.

It’s always a relief to get to the platform with bags and waiting time. Kym went to the bento shop for breakfast and I minded the bags.

Once on board, with bikes and luggage stored behind us (yeah for booking the storage space – as you can’t guarantee there will be somewhere for large luggage), we enjoyed our breakfast bento in the time it took the train to get from Tokyo to Yokohama where our friend joined us with his bike.

A few hours later we were in Kyoto meeting new friends and unfolding the bikes to cycle the Keinawa Cycling road, which is well signed and marked with a blue line once you’ve reached it.

.. end part 1.